Looking for work in India Next Year

It's been 11 months to this day that l returned from a 10 week trip around North India and l still can't get the place out of my head!

Now l'm thinking of heading back out there next year. I want to spend about a year or two out there so l can study Hindi. But whilst out there l will need to find work to support myself.

I have spent a year Teaching English in China and was thinking about doing the same in India. I also have alot of call centre experience here in the UK and have been informed that it would be quite easy for me to find similar work out there? Is this is the case? And also would it be easier getting an Indian employment visa being an NRI?

I am thinking of either Delhi or Bangalore, where would you guys recommend? I haven't been to Bangalore so l have no idea what its like but l've heard good things. Any ideas or tips of how to get the ball rolling would be much appreciated.

Indianworker -- you seem all set to go. I wish you the best. Just ensure that your flight doesn't land at Delhi during an odd hour in the night. It will be best if you could arrange a company rep to pick you up and drop you to the hotel. Otherwise, ask for the pre-paid taxi stand. Also, once you take up your job, find a female confidant/mentor/friend at office whom you can trust. She'll be of tremendous help to you in your initial days.

Jaz -- although it depends upon the company you join but considering all things same, Bangalore has a better work culture. You'll find people are more professional there. Bangalore also has a better climate and is relatively safer for women. I cannot say about Visa and other formalities. You could check up with the Indian embassy in the UK or look up their website, if there's one. Another approach I can think of is speaking to India based HR recruitment firms. They'll offer you a better idea about your work prospects in India than anyone here on IndiaMike. Ma Foi, for example, is a leading HR firm in India. They also have a UK office. Try Google for more.

Jobs in India

I have followed this thread with fair interest. I was tempted to add a few more comments.. but I decided to refrain from commenting on questions which you did not even specifically ask ... like some posts telling you that is not a good idea to come ( I think it is a wonderful idea, and I am indeed thinking of taking up assignments abroad for short periods.. even though it may mean a lower remuneration for me)... or whether you are getting adequate remuneration or not...

I think there are several different reasons for seeking international employment even when the salary levels are lower.. I would for instance like to go as a local in a country for six months.. actually meet people, that is the ultimate cross cultural experience.. This is an opportunity which you can get only by living in a country, as against travelling to the various places frequented by tourists. For instance your neighbours may include school going kids, people your age, retired people.. people with different outlooks to life, and people who bring you different experiences each time you speak to them. While as a tourist, you would mainly see the drivers, guides, shop keepers wanting to sell you something, hopefully interspersed with some people you meet, with whom you can have a genuinely pleasant and possibly illuminating conversation.

In any case I am sure you have figured out your motivations quite clearly.. and that is why you have made such an effort and waited patiently.

As far as whether you are paid correctly or not.. well neither, I, nor I presume, others who have made posts.. have any real idea, about the work you do, your experience etc.. so I am not sure, how any of us could really be qualified to make any reasonable comments on this subject.

I maintain that the estimate that I have provided for expenses is fairly accurate. Of course going out and eating out.. these expenses can vary significantly.. I for instance spend perhaps lot more on some of these, than many other people. Also when the basics of life are not very expensive.. small things could change your total expenditure dramatically... for instance you are a very fussy wine drinker.. and want very expensive wines.. you could even spend 3 times the monthly food bill on wines.

I am not however quite sure, if your company's estimate of Rs. 3,000/- per month is accurate. Usually most BPO firms have reasonably good cafeterias... with at least one meal and snacks thrown in free. Most BPOs also provide transport from residence to the office, in shared cars (MUVs).. for all employees.. this is essentially to the fact that most BPOs are in the suburbs and the special work hours.

I would think that in the circumstances that you described the salary offered to you is a safe salary (from the company's point of view), as you yourself mentioned that due to the distances involved the company may not have been able to make a very fair evaluation. I am sure a fair work environment would present opportunities for an early revaluation of the same.

While the commitments to ethical issues may vary from company to company.. the new businesses such as the BPO sector etc.. work very actively with international clients, are often started by professionals with significant exposure to international markets, clients etc..

Also most such companies at least for now, make an earnest effort to adopt best international practices.

I would like to wish you all the very best for your stay in Delhi, and would be glad to answer any of your questions about Delhi, what it offers.. in form of not only tourist attractions and clubs, but also about the active cultural life.

For the less clued in...

Quote:

Originally Posted by brightsparkAs far as whether you are paid correctly or not.. well neither, I, nor I presume, others who have made posts.. have any real idea, about the work you do, your experience etc.. so I am not sure, how any of us could really be qualified to make any reasonable comments on this subject.

Your presumption does not have much spark, Brighspark. Let me offer a clue. Perhaps from the FACT that those who DO have a real idea of IndianWorker's qualifications and experience are QUITE EAGER to offer her employment?* And the from the GOING SALARY of call centre empoyees and TRAINERS that our friends employed in the industry tell us?

Working in Delhi

Thank you for all the information you have supplied. I am in the process of getting ready to go to Delhi and hope to arrive there between 18th and 24th February.

I am so busy getting ready that I can't think of any further questions at the moment but know I will have some more before I leave which I will post here and appreciate your input.

You mention that you had some more comments to make but didn't make them because I hadn't asked the questions. I would still like to read your comments as any information, especially gathered from someone from Delhi, is always useful.

I have just thought of one thing - mobile phone. I have a Nokia pay as you go phone and have been told it will be no use in Delhi. Would I be better off just purchasing a new phone over there or should I try and get a new SIM card which I think some people have suggested. I did read about this briefly in another post but can't seem to trace that post at the moment. I would have liked to have had a contact number for the folks back home.

I quite agree with soulfood..you could buy a prepaid or postpaid phone connection on arrival in Delhi.

Basic phones could be bought for about Rs. 3000 - 4000. This would allow you to retain both your UK number (if they offer roaming in India through a tie-up with an Indian company - you will know that as soon as you arrive..if your phone is working). I dont think the basic phones to be much more expensive, if at all, than in the UK.. so perhaps best to defer a decision whether to buy a new phone until you arrive in Delhi.

The sim card cost would be around Rs. 200/- and talktime coupons come in various denominations..buy as may be convenient. The significant difference from other countries is that unlike some other countries, where it makes no difference where you call within the country.. India is divided into several telecom circles.. calls within the same circle (for instance Delhi or Haryana in your case), would be local calls.. whereas calls outside the circle are National long distance (not very expensive).

Since you will work in Haryana.. (and may perhaps ? ) live in Delhi, you may need to figure out what is more convenient.. to sign up for a Delhi connection or a Haryana connection.. while Delhi numbers work in Gurgaon.. in some cases.. they may get charged as roaming calls. Best would be to check with some colleagues at work with similar (work / residence ) situations and choose accordingly.

While the pre paid connections are convenient and start almost immediately.. depending on your usage etc..you may find it better to take a post paid connection... On the prepaid connection the actual talktime is somewhat lower the coupon denomination and for a moderate to heavy user, they will be more expensive than a prepaid connection.

We usually keep a spare mobile in our office, to loan to short term visitors..you could perhaps check with your office, they may perhaps be able to loan you a phone for the first week or so, until you figure out what is the best option for you.

Sorry this is a somewhat complex reply for a simple question..

I have just returned from a one week trip.. so let me refresh my memory about the other comments I had thought of making.

Cellphones locked by mobile carriers

Quote:

Originally Posted by IndianworkerI have actually checked with T Mobile and they do offer a service in India and will get a prepaid SIM as you suggest.

Oh, this might be a problem!! If you purchased your Nokia phone under a T Mobile plan, it may not work in India. Sorry, I did not consider that before since the practice to lock phones to carriers isn't common in India.

As you know many cellphone carriers in the US and elsewhere sell subsidised handsets, sometimes even free, if users sign up for a long term [1 or 2 year] plan. In return, they "lock" the handset software to use only their SIM cards. So a phone bought under a Cingular plan in the US won't work when you try a T mobile SIM in it.

That said, these locks are usually easily picked by local cellphone repair shops. There's a small cottage industry of people selling unlocking software or services on Ebay and elsewhere. But it remains a hassle and there's even a small risk of losing the phone's flash memory and never seeing it work again.

I had a big problem with a Sony T616 bought in the US. The local shops in Gaffar market, Karol bagh couldn't unlock it and I had to pay three times the usual amount to get it unlocked from an authorised Sony service shop after much difficulty. Even then the phone worked with only one carrier [Idea]. I've heard that Nokia is much easier to unlock, sometimes all it requires is a code.

T mobile does have collaboration with Airtel for Blackberry phones but I seriously doubt if a T mobile locked phone would work with a regular prepaid SIM from Airtel.

That leaves you with the following options

- purchase a new [unlocked!] phone at home and carry it with you
- purchase a new phone on your arrival in India

thanks for the information, appreciate it! At the moment l'm looking to head out there in July 2006. By which time l should of found myself something, saved enough cash and rented out my apartment. I am currently working for RBS and they have a Churchill office near Delhi, so HR at my work are looking into that for us. I'm also taking your advice and checking out HR in India, Cheers!

Just stating the obvious, but if you have till 2006 and you live in London (I think?) have you considered taking a course in conversational Hindi at least or more advanced? You might find that really helpful and I imagine it would be readily available where you're at.

Note that if you should move to another part of the country you might find your Hindi next to useless though, although the higher classes might still speak it but don't count on it too much for everyday conversation.